Marathon's temporary experimental PvE mode, Vault Breaker, which is live until August 18, provides a unique opportunity to fully appreciate the intricacies of the game's ambitious Cryo Archive map. This mode removes the threat of player-versus-player combat, allowing players to focus on the map's design and challenges.
For players like IGN writer Jeremy Peel, who had spent over 200 hours in Marathon's standard modes, the Cryo Archive remained largely inaccessible. Its weekend-only availability and high-level entry requirements, combined with the challenge of navigating the complex map against experienced players, made it a daunting prospect. The original PvPvE design of the Cryo Archive, with its Destiny-style vault puzzles, difficult bot encounters, and labyrinthine layout, proved overwhelming for many, preventing them from engaging with the map's full potential.
The Vault Breaker mode addresses this by focusing on a PvE experience. Players are given access to lower-security vaults and must progress by fighting waves of bots, hacking terminals, and collecting enemy tags to upgrade their security clearance. Powering the vault doors requires batteries scattered throughout the Archive, which can be located by their telltale sound or by activating wall scanners. While initial attempts may not guarantee success, players earn Indexes, a currency exclusive to Vault Breaker, which can be spent on permanent upgrades such as better shields, larger backpacks, and improved starting security levels. This roguelike-adjacent system encourages steady progression through the map.
As players venture into higher-numbered vaults, the challenges become more complex, often requiring specific items like coolant, an aptitude for pattern-matching puzzles, and readiness for boss fights. Some vaults even introduce environmental hazards, such as an ambient virus that degrades the player's health bar.
The removal of PvP pressure in Vault Breaker allows for a deeper appreciation of the Cryo Archive's detailed level design. Elements like body-shaped compartments, a screening room with seats facing a tranquil image, and the vast, alien-looking Panopticon at the map's center become more apparent. These details contribute to the map's imposing atmosphere, which rivals the aesthetic of classic sci-fi concept art.
Vault Breaker also facilitates learning through trial and error and observation of other players. Players can acquire knowledge organically without resorting to external guides. For example, experienced players might share tips on optimal routes or effective strategies for team support.
While co-op gameplay may not replicate the intense adrenaline of PvP, Vault Breaker serves as a valuable complementary mode. Earnings from Vault Breaker can be converted into powerful gear for the main game, offering a way to recoup losses from PvP encounters. Bungie has historically treated these PvE modes as experimental and temporary, a strategy that may aim to maintain player engagement through artificial scarcity.
Bungie has announced plans for a permanent PvE mode, slated for release with Season 3 on September 22. This upcoming mode is expected to offer a similar experience to Vault Breaker, providing a space to decompress between competitive matches. The success of Vault Breaker suggests that Cryo Archive's design is robust enough to be engaging in a purely PvE context, allowing players to discover its depths and complexities at their own pace. The ultimate hope for some players is to bring the knowledge gained in Vault Breaker back to the PvP modes to challenge the players who previously dominated the map.